Ambitious Girl Scout’s already advising a CEO

It wouldn’t be the first time the Cape sent a President to Washington, D.C. But it would be the first time that the President had been a Girl Scout.

Ellen Chahey

Someday, Emma Gauthier will be asking for your vote

ELLEN C. CHAHEY PHOTOS THEY’LL SELL YOU SOME COOKIES - Emma Gauthier, 12, poses with her mother, Dianne; her father, Robert; and her brother, Drew, 7. It wouldn’t be the first time the Cape sent a President to Washington, D.C. But it would be the first time that the President had been a Girl Scout. Emma Gauthier of Marstons Mills, at 12, already has a vestful of badges and patches as she works her way toward the Silver Award, the highest Girl Scouting offers at her age level. She’s a competitive swimmer. She and three of her best friends have been accepted in the Advanced Studies Leadership Program at Mass. Maritime Academy this summer. She’s a “prosecutor” in mock trials. She has addressed an audience of 9,000 at a national Girl Scout convention. Emma enjoys public speaking so much, she decided she’d like to be President. With that goal in mind, she’s gathering badges and leadership experiences. Recently, Emma was appointed to a new advisory committee for Ruth N. Bramson, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, one of just 20 girls selected out of the 40,000 served by the organization. Bramson was ill and could not be reached for this article, but according to a press release, she has said, “This committee keeps me in touch with what our Girl Scouts want from their experience and keeps Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts relevant and exciting to all girls.” Emma, now a seventh-grader at Barnstable Middle School, joined the Girl Scouts in first grade at Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter Public School. She’s in Cadette Troop 1142, led by Katri Mullaly and Emma’s mom Dianne. Emma explained the mission of the advisory committee: “to work with the CEO and some of her staff to help get more girls to be Girl Scouts.” They met for the first time in December. Among the ideas they have already brainstormed are some new patches (which mark special events); activities that potential members might like; and ways of getting the word out about Girl Scouting. They could just hire Emma. She’s that enthusiastic about Girl Scouting. She could recite from memory the organization’s mission: “to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.” She also listed some of the “amazing opportunities” that Girl Scouts has afforded her: Speaking at the national convention in Indianapolis, and also at the Leading Women Awards in Boston (where she introduced then-Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, “a really cool woman”). Meeting such celebrities as actress Geena Davis, and Richard Branson of Virgin Airways (“He’s a multimillionaire and we sold him Girl Scout cookies.”). Learning adult skills such as money management (she has a badge in it). Designing “lots of programs for Daisies and Brownies” (the littlest Girl Scouts). Planning a trip to New York City (how her troop voted to use its share of this year’s cookie money). Though Emma’s mother is a co-leader of her troop, she is deferring to her colleague, Mullaly, to direct Emma’s quest for a Silver Award. “It’s just a better dynamic,” she said, and added, “Over the years there have been a lot of Girl Scout leaders and volunteers who have helped Emma become who she is today.” As for what she wants for the future – that bid for the Presidency – Emma already has her path planned: “First a really, really good college. Then law school. Then politics or law. Then, President!” Meanwhile, there’s that Silver Award to earn. And one of the requirements is community service, which Emma is fulfilling as a shelver at Centerville Public Library. She loves books. What kind? “Horror. Vampires. I like to read scary stories.” In fact, she arrived at her Patriot interview clutching one that she’d just checked out. She also plans, upon her retirement from the Presidency, to write them. Does she know that she really doesn’t look like the horror and vampire type? “Yeah. But looks can be deceiving.” Girl Scout cookies are being sold through March 31, from booths at Stop & Shop and the Cape Cod Mall, door-to-door, or by phone (508-428-3880). For more information on Girl Scouting, go to www.girlscoutseasternmass.org.